Rea re-signs for OMG Suzuki for 2019

Gino Rea will remain with the OMG Racing Suzuki squad for the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike championship after inking a fresh contract.

The 2009 European Superstock 600 champion will return to BSB after his debut campaign this year having joined the all-new OMG Racing squad as part of a one-rider effort allowing both he and the team to get up to speed in the national series.

After a productive maiden season, OMG Racing will expand to a two-rider effort after signing former BSB race-winner Luke Mossey along with retaining Rea for 2019.

Rea is naturally pleased to get the chance to build on his rookie BSB year with the same set-up, the first time he’s remained in the same team for consecutive years since 2010, and is naturally targeting to climb the grid next season.

“I’m very pleased to continue my relationship with the OMG Racing team,” Rea said. “We’ve learnt and developed so much this year and it only made sense to continue together.

“Towards the end of 2018 we started to show our potential and we were finding our way with the new Suzuki GSX-R1000. I believe we can continue to improve our package so it’ll be important to have a solid few tests over the winter to head into 2019 as strong as possible.

“This will be the first time since 2010 that I have stayed on the same machinery and team for consecutive years which is something I’m really looking forward to, and I’m extremely grateful to OMG Racing for giving me that opportunity.”

With Rea and Mossey signed up OMG Racing get 2019 preparations underway at the end of this month with early pre-season tests at Cartagena and team principal Paul Curran has set out high expectations for next year.

“In the latter part of the year, everything was starting to click into place so if we can start from where we finished, with the further developments over the winter to improve the bike, we will be aiming for top five finishes and definitely a Showdown position,” Curran said.

“Team OMG are off to Cartagena at the end of this month for a few days of testing, so it will be great seeing Gino back in the saddle.”